Changes In Parents After The Death Of A Child From Cancer
Title
Changes In Parents After The Death Of A Child From Cancer
Creator
Gilmer MJ; Foster TL; Vannatta K; Barrera M; Davies B; Dietrich MS; Fairclough DL; Grollman J; Gerhardt CA
Identifier
Publisher
Journal Of Pain And Symptom Management
Date
2012
Subject
Adaptation Psychological; Bereavement; Death; Adult; Canada; Child; Emotions; Family/ Psychology; Female; Humans; Male; Parents/ Psychology; Siblings/psychology; United States
Description
CONTEXT: Few studies have compared multiple perspectives of changes experienced by parents after a child's death. OBJECTIVES: This study used interviews with bereaved parents and siblings to examine changes in parents during the first year after the death of a child from cancer. METHODS: Mothers (n=36), fathers (n=24), and siblings (n=39) from 40 families were recruited from three hospitals in the U.S. and Canada three to 12 months after the death (M=10.7, SD=3.5). Semistructured interviews with open-ended questions were conducted in the home with each participating parent and sibling separately. Content analysis identified emerging themes, and frequencies were compared between each paired set of reports (mother vs. sibling, father vs. sibling, and mother vs. father). RESULTS: Parents and siblings identified two major categories of change experienced by bereaved parents. These changes occurred in their personal lives (e.g., emotions, perspectives and priorities, physical state, work habits, coping/behaviors, spiritual beliefs, and feeling something is missing) and relationships (e.g., family, others). Ninety-four percent of the mothers, 87% of the fathers, and 69% of the siblings reported parental changes in at least one of these categories. Parents were more likely to report changes in priorities, whereas siblings reported more sadness in parents after the death. CONCLUSION: Positive and negative changes in parents after the death of a child from cancer occur in both personal and relational domains. Additional research is needed to determine the impact of a child's death on bereaved parents over time and to develop strategies to promote healthy adjustment.
Rights
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Notes
1873-6513
Gilmer, Mary Jo
Foster, Terrah L
Vannatta, Kathryn
Barrera, Maru
Davies, Betty
Dietrich, Mary S
Fairclough, Diane L
Grollman, Jamie
Gerhardt, Cynthia A
R01 CA098217/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States
R01 CA98217/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States
Journal Article
Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
United States
J Pain Symptom Manage. 2012 Oct;44(4):572-82. doi: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2011.10.017. Epub 2012 Jul 10.
Collection
Citation
Gilmer MJ; Foster TL; Vannatta K; Barrera M; Davies B; Dietrich MS; Fairclough DL; Grollman J; Gerhardt CA, “Changes In Parents After The Death Of A Child From Cancer,” Pediatric Palliative Care Library, accessed October 6, 2024, https://pedpalascnetlibrary.omeka.net/items/show/11098.